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Thomas Jefferson's Reaction to the Constitution of 1787 During the Period of Its Ratification: September 17, 1878 - March 4, 1789 Paul D

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Thomas Jefferson's Reaction to the Constitution of 1787 During the Period of Its Ratification: September 17, 1878 - March 4, 1789 Paul D Lehigh University Lehigh Preserve Theses and Dissertations 1964 Thomas Jefferson's reaction to the Constitution of 1787 during the period of its ratification: September 17, 1878 - March 4, 1789 Paul D. Caravetta Lehigh University Follow this and additional works at: https://preserve.lehigh.edu/etd Part of the History Commons Recommended Citation Caravetta, Paul D., "Thomas Jefferson's reaction to the Constitution of 1787 during the period of its ratification: September 17, 1878 - March 4, 1789" (1964). Theses and Dissertations. 3190. https://preserve.lehigh.edu/etd/3190 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by Lehigh Preserve. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Lehigh Preserve. For more information, please contact [email protected]. \ . ,. I ,• ABSTRACT Thomas Jefferson had to view the framing and ratlfleatton of the Constitution of 1787 from _France. There he had become a-cquatnted, at ftrst hand. witti. gureopean opinions of the American government. lie had aeen how deflclencles In the Articles of.Confederation failed to pro• . vtde for a political order whlch the Europeans would respect. They looked at the Congr@se ae an impotent body and the United States as a .,· ,' '· I 1··. mere collection of autonomous states. l ' ~ ~Or' ,: .. ,, 'I ..~-· :Jefferson became convtnced of the need for reform. He thought • I I elude regulation of commerce, an independent Income, and responsib111ty for the total debt of the nation would be sufficient. The movement to grant Congress the potver to regulate co'Cll\1!8rce bagan with the Annapolis Comrneretal Convention. This convention did not accomplish its ends. Only five states atte~ded, but their delegates issued a resolution to the states to send delegates to Philadelphia to consider a general revision of the federal government. ' The Philadelphia C~nvention convened as a functioning body on the : I ·~ . twenty•flfth of t1ay, 1781. It deliberated in secret until the seven• teenth of September. The Constitution was proposed to the states for ratlflcatton. I ' I ' ._:..;;...- Jefferson had formed hls first lmpresaJons within two months. He r!-·, I -~ .j did not like the Constitution. He did not understand the reasoning rl :I ' :I . ·1- l I •.;.r behind the· making of a new constitution and the overthrowing of the old. Besides, the new one had no bill of rights, no provtslon to limit the number of termsof 'the executive office, and no means of curtailing the axerc!so of govc~1£Mt12ntal power ~1hlch could be brought to bea:r directly on the citizen. He proceeded to flood the malls with letters to friends. Be elucidated his reaction to tt1e Const! tutlon in its ent!,sety or 1 ts parts, . '. At first, he referred to !t as a degeneg,aey of Amer!can'l!berty. He ' liberty· could ascribe to a constitution whlch did not guarantee the_m their rtgl,ts. t.J!th reflection and discussion, he came to see the did so, though, with two reservations. He wanted a Bill of Rights and an amendment to llm!t the tenure of the executive. In the quest for a stable govern.rnent wh!ch tveuld adequately fulfill the expectations and desires of the people, he did not -viant to see· the countr)1 saddled with one which was no better than that against which they ~~had rebelled. He realized that the Constitution would provide, quite reasonably, :,: what he considered to be good governtnent. He t11as anxiot1s that the seeds of lts own destruction wtth!n lt be removed. The government bad to be the liberties of the people. He finally came to accept the Constitution ; ..... - -· as the 0 wisest ever yet present~d to man." Unde~ it, there would be a provide for the republic in the future. ·, \ • 'I ·' . ·! .. J... ... ' -- -~ ~·-, ·~". ..,. :l '·.' ·;. t .. ~. ,q_· ... ·, THOMAS JEFFERSON'S REACTION -TO THE CONSTITUTION '• -OF 1787 DURING THE PERIOD -OF ITS RATIFICATION: ,ifo . i SEPTEMBER 17 1 1787 - MARCH 4 2 1789 ·.w. By Paul, Danf.el Caravetta A THESIS Presented to the Gr~duate Fa~ulty of Lehigh University in Candidacy for the Degree of Master of Arts Lehigh University - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania ,, 1964 ,.' ' . : [ ,1. I . ( ,. ' ... ). .., ..... r .. --·--·~"'-- -· --- ' . ..... ·.· - I •·\ ·(: . ... d I . ... .}~; ··.- ..-~ This thesis is accepted and approved in partial fulfillment of ·the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts. i t .-~:-.. ,/ ·.. ' ....- "· '. ( -11- ·.;·. ,. '<,•.·,· ,.._ ............. _.., .. " ·, J ! / / .... ACKNOWLEDGEMEN·TS The preparation of this thesis has required the variou~ . contributions f ro1n persons other than the author. He must acknowledge with gratitude the guidance of Dr. George w. Kyte. Additional thanks '., I are ow~d to nr. Kyte for his original suggestions to inquire into Mr. Jefferson's reaction to the Constitution of 1787. The recommendations . which Dr.. John' Cary, the Head of the Department of Hi'story, made are also appreciated. Dr. C~ry suggested additional reading which led the author to a deeper understanding of the implications of the framing of the Constitution and to avoiding the pitfalls in the complexities of ' ) the Confederation period.- The author must also acknowledge the use of the library . J resources on Thomas Jefferson of the University Library of Lehigh .~ University, the Harvey Memorial Library of Moravian College, and the b .. Library of Lafayette College. .,_ Finally, the encouragement of my wife, Joyce, sustained me and !I helped make this work possible. Her patience, though at times strained, endured to the end; and she has welcomed the presence of " Mr. Jefferson into our home • .. ,.,_-, 1 ~ ·)~ i .,l .. l ..,.. ·. ~ -·iii- -~ ,J L • I ' Thoma·s Jefferson went to London in l-·1arch, 1786, to collabor·ate with John 1\dams in the negotiating of a treaty with · Portugal. r\dams wa·nted a portrait of his friend and commissioned ·• .: at her Brown to do .it. -iv- '• \ . I ~ .. ' I TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page ABSTRACT • • • • • . ... • •• • •• •• • •• -~. 1 INTRODUCTION • • • • • • . .. ,• •: ~ ... •. .•. ~ ... •· 3 .·-·~· ........ • I. JEFFERSON IN FRANCE • • • • • • • • • • • . .. .... -~ .. • • 10 II. JEFFERSON'S REACTION TO THE ,, ANNAPOLIS AND PHILADELPHIA CONVENTIONS •••• • • • • . .. •• 22 III. JEFFERSON'S REACTION TO THE CONSTITUTION • • • . • • • =• 37 -~ _T ,<) • • IV. JEFFERSON AND THE TRIPARTITE FORM OF GOVERNMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION •- • -- .• .•. -• • -• • • • • • • •• 50 ) / v. JEFFERSON AND THE NATURE OF THE GOVERNMENT UNDER / THE CONSTITUTION • • • • . • • • . • • • • • • • • • • 69 VI. JEFFERSON ·AND THE BILL OF RIGHTS • • • • • • • • • • • • • 77 VII. JEFFERSON AND THE MOVEMENT FOR A SECOND CONVENTION • • • • 93 VIII. CONCLUSION • • • • • • • • • • • • • . e I • • • • • • • • • • 98 BIBLIOGRAPHY • • • .. :. .. • ·e·: •=' • ... ·•· . ••• ••• • • 104 VITA •••• 107 .--~ • • • • • • •· e: • ·:e· ·• .•· ··=·f ·• :e ·• •. •· e, • • • .t .. ·. ·\.·· .,#. ..c -v- ...•. q;,~~·~~:~--~,~ :,i'.~·····~. ·: J_.:. r • · .. - .. "'- ·-· . '.., ABSTRACT ·.Thomas Je'fferson had to view the framing and ratification of the·' Constitution of 1787 from France~ There he had become acquainted, at first hand, with European opinions of the American government. He had seen how deficiencies in the Articles of Confed~ration failed to pro- . vtde for a political order which the Europeans would respect. They looked at the Congress as an impotent body and the United States as a mere collection of autonomous states. Jefferson became convinced of the need for reform. He thought several amend~ents which would extend the powers of Congress to in­ clude regulation of commerce, an independent income, and responsibility / for the total debt of the nation.would be sufficient. The movement to grant Congress the power to regulate commerce began with the Annapolis ""- Commercial Convention. This convention did not accomplish its ends. Only five states attended, but their delegates issued a resolution to , the states to send delegates to Philadelphia to consider a general revision of the federal government. The Philadelphia Convention convened as a functioning body on the· twenty-fifth of fl.1ay, 1787. It deliberated in secret until the seven- . teenth of September. The Constitution was proposed to the states for ratification. Jefferson had formed his first impressions within two months. He did not like the Constitution. He did not understand the reasoning -1- .,· .-.. · . J behind the making of a new constitution and the overthrowing of the old. '4~ Besides, the new one had no bill of rights, no provision to limit the number of ~erms ci. tthe executive office, and no means of curtailing the exercise of governmental power which could be,. brough't to bear directly on the citizen. J. He proceeded to flood the mails ·with letters to friends. He elucidated his reaction to the Constitution ·in its entirety or its parts. At first, he referred to it as a degeneracy of Americari liberty. He ·could not understand how the Americans who were so jealous of their liberty could ascribe to a constitution which did not guarantee them their rights. tii th reflection and discussion, he came to see t'he inherent wisdom of the new instrument of government and accepted it. He l did so, though, with (two reservations. He wanted a Bill of Rights and an amendment to limit the tenure of the executive. Jefferson was concerned for bis country during this trying time. In the,quest for a stable government which would adequately fulfill the expectations and desires of the people, he did not want to see the country
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